New Orleans and Cuba, Comparative Cultures and Contingencies

October 12, 2005 - 4:00 pm

Tomás Montoya, Provincial Academy of Fine Arts José Joaquín Tejada (Santiago de Cuba)

Cuba and New Orleans are regions that have had a palpable cultural impact on the hemisphere and the world. In spite of their socio-economic differences, they also share many historical and cultural connections and have endured many related experiences. Mr. Montoya will explore these connections and shared experiences, a theme that takes on added significance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

A cultural researcher, Tomàs Montoya combines a background in the social sciences, Caribbean studies, youth arts promotion and education to research the cultural traditions of Santiago de Cuba, the social context of emerging art forms and the transmission of traditions to young artists. He is Professor of Aesthetics at the Provincial Academy of Fine Arts José Joaquín Tejada and the Conservatory Esteban Salas in Santiago de Cuba, where he is also president of the Asociación Hermanos Saíz (AHS), an organization that promotes the development of young artists.